Ceramic drill



March 21, 1939.

R A. HAwN CERAMIC DRILL Filed May 28, 193e Patented Mar. 21, 1939 l 16 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling tools, and more particularly to an improved, motor driven tubular drilling tool adapted for cutting or drilling holes in-glass, marble, porcelain, slate, stone, tile and ceramic materials generally, such as lterrazzo flooring or the like.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision pf a light, compactpotable ceramic drill in either vertical or horizontal positions,

or in other planes perpendicular to the surface to be drilled, and wherein the drill holder, in which the-tubular cutting drill is supported for rotation, has its work abutting face provided with an annularly arranged row of suction-producing cups of rubber, or other similar deformable material, so that the drill, including its operating motor, may, by the use of the suction cups, be directly attached whenever desired to the outer surface of -the material to be drilled, without involving any extraneous means of support, in a quick and eiective manner and without injury to the material operated upon.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the drill holder or guide with spaced parallel longitudinally extending rods adapted for the slidable reception of a cross head upon which is carried the electrically actuated driving motor for the tubular cutting drill, the said rods, in combination with the guide holder, serving to maintain said motor and the associated drill in interconnected operative relationship, so that the drill will be supported for rotation about a fixed longitudinal axis and prevented from deviating from such axis when in operation.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the holder ordrill guide with an internal socket adapted for the reception of any one of a plurality of adapter rings, the latter being formed for the rotatable reception of tubular drills of varying diameter, provision being made for quickly and readily removing or inserting an adapted ring from or in said holder in order to permit of the drilling ofopenings of varying diameter.

Another object of the invention resides in providing each of the adapter rings with a removable work-engaging gasket having a suction producing groove formed therein, the said gasket serving to assist the suction-producing cups in maintaining the tool in engagement with the work without the use` of extraneous supports or positioning elements and, also, to act as a seal in preventing the escape of a uid abrasive employed in connection with the operation of the `tubular` drill.

(Cl. 12S-20) A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tubular drill for producing circular openings in ceramic bodies and wherein the cutting drum portion of the drill is formed with longitudinally extending slots, producing cutting edges, the slotted portion of the drill being maintained in spaced relationship from the adjacent inner walls of the adapter ring in which the drill is rotatably mounted, whereby to provide for the free flow of the abrasive about the inner and outer surfaces of the slotted portion of the drill, and yet to confine the abrasive to the immediate vicinity of the cutting edges of the drill, where it may be most advantageously utilized.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ceramic drill constructed in accordance with the present invention; n

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the drill;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the drill but wherein a tubular cutter of smaller diameter than that shown in Fig. 2 is utilized.-

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates, the base member or holder `oi my improved ceramic drill which is preferably in the form of a casting and includes an annular base ange 2, having its inner or under surface formed with a plurality of sockets 3 adapted for the reception of a plurality of suction cups I. These cups are preferably formed from rubber, or other similar deformable material which, when moistened, compressed and released, tenaciously adhere to the outer surface of a body to be drilled, such for instance, as a pane of glass, as indicated at 5. A sumcient number of the suction cups are used and their total area is such that the drill as a whole may be supportedy in any desired position, whether vertical, horizontal or otherwise, without involving extraneous means of support, such as clamps, frames or the like. This rendersthe drill selfcontained and enables the same to be placed where desired on vthe surface of the material to be drilled. For instance, it is often desirable to o drill openings in large panes of glass such as that employed in show windows. In accordance with the present invention, the drill may be placed on an installed or erected pane of glass in any desired position and an opening drilled in the glass v of -the structin-al axially p I2, there is stationarily positioned a metallic without disturbing the moimtinc vof the latter. This adaptability is due to the lightness in weight parts ofthe drill and to the strong and powerful grip which the suction cups exercise on the surfaceof the material to' which the drill is attached. The cups 4 are preferably held in place by lmeans of headed screws l which have their Shanks received within nuts vl em- ,bedded inthe stems l of said cups. By tightening thel screws into and held flange.

The base member or Vholder I is, in this instance, formed with 'a longitudinally extending from end 'to end, the said opening being of sub stantially uniform diameterv throughout its length or height. The upper or outer portion of the opening 9 is provided with screw threads as indicated at I0, which receive the threaded outer wall of an adapter ring II. 'Ihis ring, like the member or holder I, is also formed from a. cast or molded composition material, such as a resinous condensation product and is, in turn, provided with an axial opening I2 passing through the ring from one end thereof to the other. In the upper or outer end of the opening bushing or `bearing Il which closely engages and supports for rotation a tubular lcutting drill I4. The upper or outer end of the ring II is formed with an out-turned flange I5 having a serrated edge, which enables the said last-named flange to be conveniently gripped in order to thread the ring into its operating position within the base member or holder Igor to eiect its removal from the latter.

The bottom or inner portion of the ring terminates in an annular skirt I6 and positioned upon the outer c' cular wall of this skirtl is a sealing gasket I1. The upper or outer edge of the gasket I1 engages with a shoulder I8, formed at the upper or outer end of the skirt I6, while the lower or inner end of said gasket is thickened to form an annular shoulder I9 which engagesv with the lower or inner edge of the skirt I8. The thickened work-engaging portion of said gasket has its work engaging surface formed with an annular groove 20 which, when moistioned, compressed and released, supplements the action of the suction cups 4 in holding the.too1 on the work and, in addition, serves as a seal in preventing the escape of a substantially iluid abrasive compound from the immediate confines of the stant distance is maintained between the drills cutting drill I4.

Cutting drills of varying diameter are employed in conjunction with adapter rings conforming to such variations in drill diameter. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, a tubular cutter or drill possesses a smaller diameter than that illustrated in Fig. 2. For all diameters, however, a conand the skirts I6 of the adapter rings, whereby to provide for the free flow of the abrasive fluid or paste around both the inner and outer sui'- faces of the cutting end of the drill. In this instance, the cutting end of the drill is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending, relatively spaced, open-ended slots 2|, which produce the cutting edges. As the drill or cutter I4 revolves, the fluid abrasive compound is confined within the limits of the opening I2 of the adapter ring, first, by the construction of the ring itself, and, secondly, through the use of the gasket I'I, thus confining the compound to the limits of the 8,thesaidstemsarenrinlydrawn. within thesockets lof thebase* disposed opening 9 passing therethroughy l a pair of sockets 22 for the reception of the lower or inner ends of a pair of rigid guide rods 22. Re-

movably andslidably mounted on these rods is a crommember or saddle 24 to which is secured asat 25 an electrical motor 26, the latter being vpreferably provided with a pistol grip 2l for conveniencein the manual handling of. the same. The armature shaft of the motor drives a chuck 28, which removably receives an axially disposedl stem 20 ilxedto the head SII provided at the outer or upper end of each cutting drill I4.

In the use of the tool,y the base member or holder I is first applied in the correct position on the material to be cut. Usually, the operator f produces intersecting perpendicular lines on the surface of thematerial to indicate the center of the opening to be drilled. The upper surface of the base'flange 2 may be, provided with arrows, as indicated at 3|, which may be registered with the hues drawn on the surface of the material. 'I'he suction cups, which have been previously moistened, are compressed and deformed so that when the holder is released, the said cups will exercise their 'maximum suction effect.

Following the positioning of the base member or holder I, the proper size adapter ring is then threaded into the base member or holder, until the sealing gasket I3 thereof firmly engages the outer surface of the -material to be cut. A fluid abrasive is then applied to the inside of the adapter ring and deposited on the material surface. Following this operation, the tubular cutter or drill of proper diameter isthen connected with the chuck 28 of the operating motor, and the cross member or saddle 24, supporting said motor, is then placed on the upper ends of the guide rods 23 and advanced longitudinally thereon until the cutting edges of the drill I4 contact with the surface of the material to be cut. The switch governing the operation of the motor is then closed, starting the motor and rotating the drill.

Due to the provision of the bushing or bearing I3 Ain the adapter ring, and the steadying iniluence of the guide rods 23 and the cross member 24, which carries the motor, true rotation of the' drill takes place about its longitudinal axis, so that perfectly straight openings may be bored in the material engaged by the drill. It is not necessary for the operator to hold the motor during the. drilling operation, since the cutter and motor automatically advance as the drilling proceeds, particularly when the tool is arranged in the upright or vertical position disclosed in Fig. 2.

The present invention thus provides a light portable drill of a self-contained character adapted for rapidly and accurately producing circular openings in various kinds of ceramic materials.

What is claimed is:

1. A ceramic drill comprising a holder having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, an adapter ring removably positioned `in said holder, said ring constituting a bearing for the reception lof a rotatable tubular cutter, a plurality of suction cups connected with the bottom of said holder, and a sealing gasket carried by the bottom of said adapter ring.

2. The combinationwith a drill, of a holderA compressible means on said ing said work.

3. The combination with a drill, of a holder having securing means thereon engaging the work, an adapter having a compressible work engaging member, and means for adjusting the adapter relative to the Work and said holder.

1. 'I'he combination with a drill, of a base member having securing means thereon engaging the work, av drill adapter removably carried by said base member, and a work engaging compressible means on said adapter, said compressible means lying adjacent said drill and surrounding the same to prevent escape of abrasive from the area to be drilled.

5. The combination with a drill, of a base member, suction cups on said base member engaging the work, a drill adapter. compressible means on said adapter, and means connecting said adapter with said base member compressible means against said work.

6. The combination with a drill, of a base memadapter ring engagber, suction cups on said base member engaging the work, a drill adapter, compressible means on said adapter, and means connecting said adapter with said base member to press and hold said compressible means against said work, said compressible means lying adjacent to said drill and surrounding the same to prevent escape of abrasive from the area of the work undergoing drillins.

7. The combination 'with a drill, of a base member, suction producing means carried by said ,base member and engaging the work to maintain said member in attached relationship with the work, a drill receiving adapter, a cushion on said adapter, and means connecting said adapter with said base member to press said cushion against the work, said cushion being ring-like and lying adjacent to said drill in surrounding relation therewith.

8. The combination with a drill, of a base member, suction producing means carried by said base member and engaging the work to maintain said member in attached relationship with the work, a drill receiving adapter, a cushion on said adapter, and means connecting said adapter with said base member tok press said cushion against the work, said cushion being ring-like and lying adjacent to said drill in surrounding relation therewith, said cushion having the work engaging surface thereof provided groove.

9. The combination with a drill, of a base memwith an annular ber, an annular series of suction cups carried by,

said base member for engagement with the surface of a body to be drilled, a. drill receiving adapter removable carried by said base member,

an annular work engaging gasket carried by the inner end of Said adapter, and a bushing formed with said adapter for the rotatable reception of a drill, said drill having a smaller diameter than said gasket.

10. The combination with a motor driven tubular drill, of an annular base member, an annular series of suction cups carried by said base member for supporting the latter on the surface of the material to be drilled independently of extraneous support, said base member being provided with an internally threaded opening. a drill-receiving to press and hold said v adapter ring positioned in said opening and having threaded engagement therewith, said ring being provided with an annular skirt surrounding and spaced from the cutting end of said drill, and a compressible seal carried by said skirt.

11. A ceramic drill comprising a base member having a longitudinally extending opening formed therein, a drill receiving adapter removably positioned in said opening, a tubular drill rotatably supported by said adapter, said drill having the cutting end thereof longitudinally slotted, the outer surfaces of said drill at the slotted end thereof being spaced from ythe complemental inner surfaces of said adapter to produce an annular abrasive-receiving opening, and a compressible work engaging seal carried by the inner endl of said adapter.

12. A ceramic drill comprising a base member, an adapter removably positioned within said base member, a tubular cutting drill rotatably supported by said adapter, longitudinally extending guides rigidly projecting from said base member, a saddle slidably mounted on said guides', and a motor for rotating said drill mounted on said saddle.

13. A ceramic drill comprising a base member, an adapter removably positioned within said base member, a tubular cutting drill rotatably supported by said adapter, longitudinally extending guides rigidly projecting from said base member, a saddle slidably mounted on said guides, and a motor for rotating/'said drill mounted on said saddle, said saddle being removable from the outer ends of said guides.

14. In a cutting device of the kind described, a holder provided with a bore therethrough; .n insert having an opening therethrough posi- 'tioned in the bore of the holder; gripping elements to secure the holder upon the surface of the work mounted on thevholder; and a resilient skirt on the insert for setting o an area on the said surface.

15. In a cutting device of the kind described, a holder provided wtih a bore therethrough; an insert having an opening therethrough positioned in the bore of the holder; gripping elements to' secure the holder upon the surface of the work mountedon the holder; and a resilient skirt on the insert for setting oil' an area on the said surface, said holder and insert being in screw- ,threaded engagement whereby upon manual manipulation oi' -the latter the said skirt is forced against the surface of the work.

16. In a cutting device of the kind described, a holder having a bore extending therethrough; a plurality of suction cups arranged in a circumscribing path on the holder around the bore to secure the same to the work; an insert extending into the bore;-screw threads formed on the said holder and insert whereby upon manual manipulation the latter is moved along the holder within the bore thereof; a resilient skirt on the insert movable toward and from the work; and a rotatable cutter journalled in the insert, said suction cups providing sufiicient gripping force to permit the aforesaid manipulation of the insertamount necessary to establish a sealed joint around the area set oii'by the said skirt.

A RALPH A. HAWN. 

